Timbers weekend - rivalry road trip this weekend, but is there change in the air?

Kip Kesgard, community blogger. Over 16,000 fans have witnessed two consecutive U.S Open Cup matches between Seattle and Portland at PGE Park, with over 500 Sounders supporters making the trip south. Due to some strict policy decisions by the Sounders front office, it would appear that fan travel for next season could be severly impacted.

Finishing the season against the Whitecaps is a great way to complete a memorable 2010 regular season campaign, as two old time Cascadia rivals face off for possibly the last time as members of the USSF Division 2. As I make preparations to drive to Vancouver tomorrow morning, there’s a special feeling that comes with traveling to support your club. It’s one thing to follow your club on familiar grounds and recognizable pubs amongst fellow fans, but it’s a completely different situation to go to another city and support the team on rival soil. The matchup takes on far more meaning when your club is facing a memorable foe, which is why I get keyed up whenever the Timbers face Vancouver or Seattle.

Whether it’s the closeness of the cities, a colorful history of games and events, or one city’s desire to stand out within the Pacific Northwest, there’s always been something special about games pitting Seattle, Vancouver or Portland against each other. Often called derby matches between rivals, the passion and intensity is amplified as fans make a point to travel to nearby destinations in support their team. Because the towns are approximately 3 to 6 hours away from each other, that helps fans make a quick trip to watch their team without missing too much time away from home. Considering that currently in the USSF Division 2, there is over 5,000 miles between Vancouver, BC and San Juan, Puerto Rico, having clubs in proximity to each other helps fans to travel with their team.

As both Portland and Vancouver make the jump next season to MLS, travel will take on a completely different dimension, as MLS has clubs throughout North America. Vancouver will have another Canadian club in Toronto to face regularly before Montreal joins in 2012, while Portland joins Seattle, San Jose, Los Angeles and Chivas in dotting the west coast so Timbers fans have more destinations for matches. For the most part, MLS has done a good job in allowing visiting fans the chance to travel by ensuring that home clubs set aside a number of tickets for purchase by away supporters. However, MLS hasn’t seen a rivalry much like what will be happening in 2011 with the Timbers and Whitecaps making the jump.

View full sizeKip Kesgard, community blogger. This scene in Vancouver where Timbers fans and players are celebrating a Cascadia Cup victory in Canada could be different next season unless Sounders management agrees to allow more tickets for Timbers and Caps fans to travel and support their clubs.

Because of the unique situation, Portland and Vancouver realize that Seattle will be a prime destination for road trips for their fans, and have been working with the Sounders to determine the best way to handle the rivalry in terms of ticket distribution, traveling, and other planning. While it seems that most front offices and supporters groups are in agreement about setting up special arrangements, one group seems to be dead set against being considerate, and that situation threatens to affect travel next season.

Penalizing clubs because they have a large traveling base is ludicrous, and goes against everything that would grow the game. It encourages fans that want to attend matches to use alternate ticket avenues to secure seating, which puts rival fans right in the middle of home fans and could be a recipe for disaster. I appreciate the ability to travel to Seattle, Vancouver, or other destinations and know that there is a section of the stadium with Timbers fans situated away from home fans. While most fans can handle some good natured ribbing with class and humor, not all fans share the same decorum and having separate sections lessens the likelihood of trouble. Finally, limiting access to games up there for rival clubs simply ensures that the same policy will be put on your clubs’ fans when they travel.

While I can agree that the Sounders have done mostly good things in joining the MLS, I simply can’t agree with this stance at all. When you have MLS ready to promote this rivalry as something truly special yet one of the participants isn’t willing to support that, it ruins what could end up being the crown jewel of rivalries in American soccer. I urge all soccer fans to contact the Sounders and respectfully voice their concerns about this, because all fans should be able to travel to games if they desire without restrictions or concerns for their safety.